That Eurasian

by Aleph Bey

I was mightily troubled about getting out of my coat and trousers, for, since I began that experiment in growing, they were to me and I to them, as if we had been born simultaneously. The bearer had brought the night clothes that the darzi had purchased. I have read how frogs get out of their old skins, and I think that bearer must have known all about it. I took everything as a matter of course, as if all was a daily habit of mine, and I to the manner born. I was growing very fast. The bearer left me and I slept. I almost wished for the old bare charpoy, for such fearful dreams I had on that soft bed after that good dinner! One dream was about getting into my trousers and coat again, and no end of worry it gave me. Very early I was awakened by Mr. Percy calling me, saying that he was going out to inspect a bridge, and would not be back to breakfast before eleven or twelve o’clock; that I was to make myself comfortable. So kind and considerate he was.

The bearer came and said that if I would lounge about in my pajamas for a while, the darzi would have some clothes for me to try on. That bearer was a jewel, a black diamond, a stoic, for he never even winked, or hinted at the narrowness of my former apparel. I think if I had stood on my head he would gravely have said that was the proper way for me to stand, yet I suspect he had lots of fun in the servants’ quarters talking about me. Upright as I am, I am somewhat of a suspicious nature; that is, I often suspect others of doing just what I would do if our circumstances were exchanged. I mention this, as I do not wish to be considered better than I am or was at that time. I hate gilding, for I always think there is flimsy, cheap material underneath.

When the clothes came, it took all the nonchalance I possessed to get into them, and appear to be at ease. They were not exactly a fit, but passable after a few alterations, so I emerged from my room. Then came the jutiwala with his boots, the boxwala with his shirts, socks, collars, neckties, and I was transferred into them, and transformed into what I never expected to be. I hardly need say that I went to my room to become acquainted with my new rig, so as to be ready for Mr. Percy. It seemed my whole desire was in trying to please him.

CHAPTER V.

I have been thus minute and particular to show, if possible, how strange it was to undergo this change of scene and circumstances. I have often wondered what a pupa must think when it first emerges from its prison of a cocoon into a butterfly to float in the air in the glorious sunlight! What shall we feel the moment after we have shuffled off this mortal coil and fly out somewhere? Whither?

I continued my practice in my new suit, before the great mirror in my room, until the time for Mr. Percy to come, when I went out on the veranda to meet him. He seemed surprised at my changed appearance, for, though clothes do not make a man, or even a boy, yet either looks more of a man or boy in good clothes, and before that I could scarcely say that I had any clothes at all. Mr. Percy laughed again and again, but his laughter was not in making sport of me so much as showing his pleasure. “Why, Japhet, how well you look!” and he turned me round and round, and I took a few paces out and back, as I had done before the mirror. The darzies, the bearers, the khitmutgars, the durwans on the veranda, and on the ground below, the malies snipping the flowers, the saises holding the horses, the bhisties, all were fluent in seconding the sentiments of the sahib. We then went to breakfast. The vases of flowers were between us as before, so I began to feel a little more at ease.

After breakfast we went into the drawing room and had a long chat, that is, Mr. Percy did the talking and I the listening. I have found later in life that a good listener is as necessary as a good talker in order to have an interesting conversation.

I do not remember now what was said, but I know that his remarks and especially his manner, had a charming effect upon me. One thing, however, I do recall. He said, “It is strange the way you got your name, Japhet. It is not really pretty and has no meaning but how few names are pretty and have a meaning? It is better than Hogg or Sheepshanks and may do as well as any other. It is not the name that makes the man and I wish you would always remember this. It seems to me you ought to have another name, as that is the custom nowadays and you do not want to appear odd, so I think I will call you Charles, Charles Japhet, will do very nicely.”

My blood flushed hot through me, as I thought of that other name “That Eurasian,” but I had rather have bit my tongue than told him of this. I remember also that he spoke of my books and studies, that my body had grown so fast lately, he wanted my mind to grow as well and to do this my mind must be fed with knowledge and exercised in remembering and thinking.

All this I comprehended in a moment. Had I not fed myself like a turkey for a Christmas dinner and exercised my body like a prize fighter and made it grow? The next day a teacher came and books were obtained and I commenced a course of study to continue until my departure for some school.